Study on the Causative Gene Analysis of Invasive Mucinous Adenocarcinoma

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K16194
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 49020:Human pathology-related
• Research Institution: Nagasaki University
• Principal Investigator: Kuroda Kishio 長崎大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科(医学系), 客員研究員 (10772808)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 浸潤性肺腺癌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, 142 cases of lung adenocarcinoma were analyzed and classified into two types based on mucin production. Type A, where mucin was present in both the cytoplasm and air spaces, was more likely to be diagnosed as invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma (IMA) and was HNF4a positive. On the other hand, Type B, where mucin was primarily present in the air spaces, was closer to invasive non-mucinous adenocarcinoma and was TTF-1 positive. The presence of mucin showed a significant correlation with the presence of Spread Through Air Spaces (STAS), a poor prognostic factor (P=0.046). Additionally, RNA sequencing analysis of 7 Type A cases and 6 Type B cases identified 111 different genes. These findings enhance the understanding of the biological characteristics of IMA.

Free Research Field

外科病理

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

稀な肺腺癌である浸潤性粘液腺癌(IMA)の新たな分子病理学的分類の構築を目指し、ムチン産生に着目した2つのタイプの分類（A型：細胞質と気腔の両方にムチンが存在、B型：主に気腔にムチンが存在）を提案した。 この分類は、IMAの診断や治療法開発に貢献できる。ムチン産生と予後不良因子であるSTASの関連性を明らかにしたことは、IMAの予後予測の精度向上に寄与でき、A型とB型で異なる111個の遺伝子を同定したことでIMAの発生メカニズムの解明や治療標的の探索に役立てる。これらの成果は、IMAの理解を深め、診断・治療法開発、予後予測の改善に繋がる可能性があり、社会的にも意義のある研究成果と言える。